PwC opens scale-ups programme for cyber-security businesses
Two years ago, PwC launched a programme for supporting scale-ups. Since its inception, the growth of over 240 scale-ups has been supported through various sector/regional focused groups, and now the Scale programme is extending to also include high-potential cybersecurity businesses.
A scale-up company is a company who has an average annualized return of at least 20% in the past 3 years with at least 10 employees in the beginning of the period. Launched in 2017, PwC's Scale programmes have provided insightful and intensive 10-week courses for scale-up firms looking to grow their company. Now, in collaboration with cybersecurity investors CyLon, PwC is launching its first Scale | Cyber programme to support high potential scale-up businesses focused on building a more secure and innovative digital economy.
The programme has already identified eight of the brightest international scale-ups disrupting the cyber security industry who will undertake the 10-week course, helping them to raise their profiles, identify commercial opportunities and prepare for growth. The programme, taking place in London, will introduce the companies to potential customers, decision makers, and thought leaders in their field who could advise, mentor, or partner with their business, with participants undertaking a development curriculum on topics such as leadership and operational growth.
CyLon is a fund which grows and invests in the world’s best emerging cyber businesses, via its unique global sourcing network and world-leading accelerator programmes, and so its expertise will form an important part of the proceedings. The programme will culminate in an Executive Evening, the programme’s corporate pitching event, where the cohort will present to PwC and CyLon’s network of senior executives, industry thought leaders and decision makers.
The first Scale | Cyber cohort of businesses are a cross-sectional selection of disruptive firms. Applied Blockchain builds blockchain applications that work cross-chain to manage supply chains and product life cycles of high value goods, while Censornet consolidates critical security services within a single cloud platform. Cloud Conformity provides a consolidated view of all AWS infrastructure and associated compliance level, and Dispel gives teams simple, rapid, secure remote access to industrial control systems, sensitive datasets, or vulnerable legacy assets.
Completing the group, EverCompliant is a cyber-intelligence tool that stops transaction laundering by mining numerous data sources, while Hazy is a data synthesis tool to help companies unlock data innovation and improve fraud detection and risk models. Oneclick is a cloud platform with all the necessary components for application provisioning, including extensive security measures, and finally, Semperis delivers identity-driven cyber resilience for Active Directory, to improve visibility into their hybrid identity environment.
Richard Horne, Cyber Security Partner at PwC, said, “Cyber security risk continues to rank highly amongst CEOs’ top threats to their organisation. We need innovative new businesses like our cohort to help tackle the latest cyber threats and build a more secure digital society. This programme will support these high growth scale-ups on their journey and help generate mutually beneficial commercial opportunities and relationships with established organisations.”
Grace Cassy, co-founder of CyLon, added, “CyLon's experience supporting the growth of over 80 international cyber security companies gives us unique insights into what makes a successful cyber business. We will draw on this experience and our unique combination of security, investment and business expertise to provide support and guidance to the Scale | Cyber companies, alongside some outstanding CyLon mentors. We are excited to collaborate with PwC as we continue to support cyber talent and innovation driving the global digital economy."
Related: UK cybersecurity start-ups experience evolving landscape.
